[StBernard] LOCAL BUSINESSMAN CHARGED WITH STRUCTURING ELLENESE BROOKS-SIMMS' BRIBERY CHECK

[Westley Annis]

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN CHARGED WITH STRUCTURING ELLENESE 
BROOKS-SIMMS' BRIBERY CHECK
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - BURNELL MOLIERE, age 58, a resident of Destrehan,
Louisiana, was charged in a one-count bill of information with structuring a
financial transaction to evade federal currency transaction reporting
requirements, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to bill of information, Ellenese Brooks-Simms contacted BURNELL
MOLIERE in January of 2005 to cash a $40,000 check she received from local
businessman ("Mr. A") as a "kickback" in connection with her promotion and
approval of an Orleans Parish School Board's contract involving the
lease/purchase of a computer based educational system. After agreeing to
cash the check written to a nominee payee they both knew, MOLIERE deposited
the check into his personal bank account. After depositing the $40,000
check, MOLIERE then structured the release of the funds through an elaborate
series of subsequent financial transactions designed to evade the federal
currency transaction reporting requirements surrounding the cashing of any
check over ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and to conceal the flow of illicit
monies between Mr. A and Ellenese Brooks-Simms. The scheme involved the use
of multiple cash withdrawals and the use of straw-payee cash checkers and
occurred in January of 2005. 

If convicted, BURNELL MOLIERE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five
(5) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release
following any term of imprisonment. 

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the bill of information is merely a
charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a
reasonable doubt.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the Criminal Division of the Internal Revenue Service and the Office of the
Inspector General for the Department of Education. The case is being
prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Salvador Perricone, Richard R.
Pickens, II and Michael Simpson.


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